U.S. 71 acceleration lane to open soon

05/07/2018

Motorists travelling through
one busy intersection in south Bossier Parish could find their trip a little
different in the near future.

The Bossier Parish Police
Jury has completed construction of an acceleration lane heading north from the
intersection of Sligo Rd. and U.S. Hwy. 71. All that remains before the lane
can open is applying the necessary striping. The new improvements were
permitted through the Louisiana DOTD office.

“They’ve finished putting up
the guard rail separating the new lane and the railroad ditch and we expect
them to have the striping down next week,” said Bossier Parish Engineer Butch
Ford. “This should make it much easier for northbound traffic to travel through
the intersection. Traffic westbound on Sligo Rd. turning right to the southbound
lanes will have to merge into traffic using the new acceleration lane.”

Drivers should have no
difficulty adapting to the new acceleration lane, Ford said. Two northbound
lanes are being opened up but nothing else changes in the configuration of
lanes at the intersection where Sligo Rd. and the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway
meet Hwy. 71.

“Vehicles traveling north on Hwy.
71 need to expect the merging traffic from the new acceleration lane,” he said.
“That lane is about a quarter-mile long and traffic should not be impaired.
Drivers did not lose a lane in this process, they actually gained one for
merging into traffic.”

Those who come south on Hwy.
71 from Bossier City will still have a turn lane onto Sligo Rd. eastbound, and
traffic heading east on the parkway still have left and right turn lanes and a
center lane to proceed onto Sligo Rd.

“This is going to give us
traffic relief, especially in the morning and afternoon rush hours,” Ford said.
“The Police Jury completed this project working with DOTD to handle the
additional traffic from the new Parkway extension and Parkway High School.”

Top: What motorists see when approaching U.S. 71 westbound on Sligo Rd. Bottom: What motorists will soon see when merging into northbound traffic from Sligo Rd. at U.S. 71. Of course, the orange cones will be replaced by striping.